State Senator David Carlucci

Some New York state lawmakers hope to work on measures to ban flavored e-cigarettes and other related legislation when the next session begins in January. This comes amid concern over the recent rise in lung-related illnesses and, in some states, deaths related to vaping. WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports the governor is also getting involved.

As of this week, New York no longer allows religious exemptions for vaccinations. Amid the nation’s worst measles outbreak in more than 25 years, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Thursday removing non-medical exemptions from school vaccination requirements.

Friday is Thurgood Marshall Day in New York. And a number of state and local officials will be on hand in Rockland County to talk about legislation to name a section of a road in honor of Justice Marshall’s legacy.

The number of confirmed measles cases in Rockland County, New York, continues to rise. The county executive is highlighting his health department’s recent orders, while a state senator is introducing a bill to counter misleading vaccination information.

With tolls frozen on the Mario Cuomo Bridge through 2020, New York state Senator David Carlucci is growing anxious about what an increase could look like thereafter. He is pushing for the Thruway Authority to come to the table for toll discussions this year and wants to see resident discounts.

Backers of a bill in the New York state legislature say the measles outbreak in Rockland County could give their legislation momentum. The bill would repeal exemptions from vaccination requirements for children due to religious beliefs. The renewed focus comes after the Rockland County executive declared a state of emergency Tuesday.

A New York state Senator from the Hudson Valley and a Long Island county executive were in Rockland County Thursday standing alongside several veterans. They want New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to include funding in the budget due April 1 for a support program for veterans.

A New York state senator from the Hudson Valley is renewing his call to pass data security regulations following a security breach of the Marriott hotel empire. The breach compromised personal and sensitive information of some 500 million Marriott guests over four years.

The man accused in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre appeared briefly in federal court in a wheelchair and handcuffs Monday to face charges he killed 11 people in what is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Following the Saturday shooting, a number of services are scheduled in our region.

Both spans are now open on the Mario Cuomo Bridge that connects Rockland and Westchester Counties. As road signs are being switched to reflect the new name, debate continues over discarding the old one. State lawmakers near the bridge say their constituents want to integrate the old name with the new, despite New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s apparent final word on the topic.

The political picture in the Hudson Valley has changed dramatically in the past day. Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney now turns his attention to seeking a fourth term in the House after his loss in the Democratic primary for state attorney general. Meantime, after a number of blows to members of the now dissolved Senate Independent Democratic Conference, one who survived his primary is now focused on mending fences and winning the general election.

Two New York state lawmakers are renewing their call for a mandated study on rail crossings. The Democrats were at a crossing recently in Rockland County, where a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train.

A New York state senator from the Hudson Valley has introduced legislation requiring school buses to have over the shoulder seat belts. This comes in the wake of multiple deadly school bus accidents across the country.

A state lawmaker from the Hudson Valley has crafted a bill to revert the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge to its original name. The Putnam County Republican says the new bridge should contain the words “Tappan Zee,” and any name change should go through a different legislative process.

Thursday’s “A Day without Immigrants” was a protest against Trump administration policies. And many immigrants nationwide chose to close their businesses, and stay home from work or school. A New York state senator says his contribution to the boycott was announcing an immigration resource event.

The New York state Public Service Commission on Tuesday approved a modified water rate increase for Suez Water New York, which serves about 500,000 customers in Rockland, Orange and Westchester Counties. Some area officials are upset over the approval while others praise certain components.

A state senator from the Hudson Valley says more action is needed to help reverse the trend of climbing death tolls from opioids. He applauds Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recently released plan to combat New York’s heroin and opioid epidemic but says more is needed.

A state senator from the Hudson Valley is urging a parole board to reject an inmate’s application for early release. This comes after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo last week commuted the inmate’s sentence, rendering her eligible for parole.

Two New York state lawmakers and the husband of a woman killed in a commuter train crash last year in Westchester County stood at the accident site today, calling for state transportation officials to undertake a study of rail crossings throughout New York.

“Enough is enough. We’ve seen how pervasive the issue of illegal housing is and unscrupulous landlords in our community and around the state,” says Carlucci. “And we have to have a no-nonsense approach.”

With the new Tappan Zee Bridge now about two years from completion, talk continues about what the bridge will be called. One Hudson Valley assemblyman wants to see it named in honor of veterans while others prefer it pays respect to a late governor.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo rallied in Rockland County Monday for paid family leave and, in his opening remarks, he mentioned an unrelated topic.

A state senator from the Hudson Valley is calling for the funding of full-day kindergarten across New York, proposing the money come from the state lottery. State Senator David Carlucci, an Independent Democrat from Rockland County, says every school district in New York should provide full-day kindergarten.

“We have to have full-day kindergarten for every child in New York state, no matter where you live, how much money your family has,” says Carlucci.

A state senator from the Hudson Valley has unveiled a plan to keep tolls affordable on the current Tappan Zee Bridge and its replacement. The current toll is $5 cash.

State Senator David Carlucci is an Independent Democrat whose district includes the Rockland County side of the Tappan Zee Bridge.

“We have one of the nation’s largest infrastructure projects being built right behind us, right in the Hudson Valley,” says Carlucci. “And we can have a beautiful, shiny bridge, but if we can’t afford to cross it, it’ll be devastating to our economy here in the Hudson Valley.”